Athletics agree to deal with Bartolo Colon

The AL West champions will bring back Bartolo Colon. The 39-year-old right hander has agreed to a one year deal with the Oakland Athletics. The deal is worth a guaranteed $3 million while Colon can earn incentatives increasing the overall value.

Colon will miss the first five games of the season as he serves the remaining time on his 50 game suspension following a positive test for testosterone. Prior to the suspension Colon was 10-9 with a 3.43 ERA in 24 starts.

“We wanted to bring him back — everybody, Bob (manager Melvin), me, everybody,” general manager Billy Beane said. “We ended up with a very good rotation, a young and talented rotation. But we wanted to find a veteran guy. In Bartolo’s case, based on the production, he was cost effective and good. It’s pretty hard to find that type of pitcher at that cost on a short-term deal.”

Beane also said that the A’s had watched Colon throw at winter ball. Colon will be an option at the back end of the rotation as Dallas Braden elected for free agency and Brandon McCarthy works towards a new deal.

A two-time All-Star with a 171-122 career record,Colon won the 2005 AL Cy Young Award after going 21-8 for the Angels.